The History of Aquatics: 1965-1972.

1965 The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) opens in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as a showcase for achievement in swimming and water sports. The inaugural class includes Clarence "Buster" Crabbe (swimmer, USA), C.M. "Charlie" Daniels (swimmer, USA), Gertrude Ederie (swimmer, USA), Dawn Fraser (swimmer, Australia), Beulah Gundling (aquatic arts, USA), Jamison Handy (contributor, USA), Duke Kahanamoku (swimmer, USA), Adolph Kiefer (swimmer, USA), Robert Kiphuth (coach, USA), Kusuo Kitamura (swimmer, Japan), Commodore Wilbert E. Longfellow (contributor, USA), Pat McCormick (diver, USA), Matt Mann II (coach, USA/Britain), Pamela Morris (synchronized swimmer, USA), Katherine Rawis (swimmer/diver, USA), R. Max Ritter (contributor, USA/Germany), Murray Rose (swimmer, Australia), Don Schollander (swimmer, USA), Captain Matthew Webb (swimmer, Britain), Johnny Weissmuller (swimmer, USA) and Al White (diver, USA).

1965 The National Recreation and Park Association is formed, though its roots date to 1906 with creation of the Playground Association of America. It undergoes name changes through the years, merging with other organizations along the way. With outdoor recreation becoming more prevalent in the 1950s and into the '60s, the PAA, at this time called the National Recreation Association, merges again with three other groups -- American Institute of Park Executives (est. 1898), National Conference of State Parks (1921) and American Recreation Society (1937) -- to form NRPA. In 1986, under the leadership of Walter Johnson of the Great Lakes Regional Council of NRPA, the first NRPA Swimming Pool and Aquatic Conference is held, followed by the National. Aquatic Management School. In 1988, the National Aquatic Section is created; in 2001, it becomes an NRPA branch.

1965 Structural Fibers, PacFab's parent company, introduces nonmetal filter shells, which are forerunners of the plastic pool equipment that will soon become the norm.

1966 Total number of pools in the U.S. reaches 725,600.

1968 The number of pools in the U.S. reaches 891,000.

1968 Roy Jacuzzi develops the "Roman ...